Hi All,
Sorry to ask but I just wondered if anybody had any thoughts on the pros & cons of two of the bikes on my shortlist going head to head:-
The Cube Travel SL RF:-
http://www.cube.eu/uk/bikes/tour/travel/cube-travel-sl-rf-anthrazit-green-2015/
Versus the VSF Fahrrad Manufaktur T500
http://blog.chrisbikes.co.uk/2014/02/vsf-fahrrad-manufaktur-t500-alfine-8.html
The following link is the manufacturers German website and so apologies because I can't speak German and so I can't figure out everything on the site but I think that I can get the general idea of the bike spec. I'm hoping that I can ignore the fact that they've used a photo of a step through frame because on the Chris Bikes blog the photo of the T500 does not have a step through frame.
http://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/katalog/trekking?product_id=673
Head to head specifications:-
Frame: Cube = Aluminium vs. T500 = Steel
Brakes: Cube = Shimano BR-M355 Hydr Disc Brake vs. T500 = Shimano BR-T4000 V-Brake
Gears (both internal hubs): Cube = Shimano Alfine SG-S7000 8 speed vs. T500 = Shimano Alfine 8 speed
Tyres: Cube = Schwalbe Marathon Supreme Kevlar 42x622 vs. T500 = Schwalbe Marathon Racer 35x622
Front light (both dynamo lights F&R): Cube = Busch & Muller Eyc T Senso Plus vs. Busch & Muller Lumotec Lyt Plus. *
Rear light: Cube = Busch & Muller Toplight View Plus vs. T500 = Busch & Muller Toplight Flat Plus
Front Hub: Cube = Shimano XT DH-T785 vs. T500 = Shimano DH-3N72 **
Weight: Cube = 13.9 kg vs. T500 = 14.8 kg ***
Price: I'm not certain but from what I can find it's Cube = £850 vs. T500 £899
* Regarding the front light looking at the beam patterns on the website link below the Cube's B&M Eyc light looks a lot better than the B&M Lyt on the T500. Also looking online at various shops the B&M Eyc is a more expensive light that the B&M Lyt.
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/headlights.asp
** Not that I'm an expert on dynamo hubs but looking on various websites the Cube's XT DH-T785 hub dynamo is more expensive that the T500's dynamo.
*** There's 1 kg difference between the two bikes and I know that neither is a lightweight but having a lightweight bike is not high on my priority list and so the 1kg difference is not a big factor to me. A long term, reliable and sturdy commuter is the priority which has the longevity to withstand many years commuting if looked after.
I'm not an expert in components but to me the quality of components fitted to the Cube bike seem to be better. Furthermore the Cube has disc brakes as opposed to V-Brakes on the T500. As well as the brakes being a clear difference the big difference seems to be what the frame is made of with the Cube having an aluminium frame whereas the T500 has a steel frame.
I wondered if anybody has any thoughts on what they might feel is the better of the two bikes. I'm wondering if despite the fact that it appears that the Cube has the better components for the money the fact that the T500 has a steel frame would mean that in terms of longevity that would be the bike to go for given the all weathers all year around commuting that I'll be doing?
Thanks to anyone in advance for any thoughts!
John
Sorry to ask but I just wondered if anybody had any thoughts on the pros & cons of two of the bikes on my shortlist going head to head:-
The Cube Travel SL RF:-
http://www.cube.eu/uk/bikes/tour/travel/cube-travel-sl-rf-anthrazit-green-2015/
Versus the VSF Fahrrad Manufaktur T500
http://blog.chrisbikes.co.uk/2014/02/vsf-fahrrad-manufaktur-t500-alfine-8.html
The following link is the manufacturers German website and so apologies because I can't speak German and so I can't figure out everything on the site but I think that I can get the general idea of the bike spec. I'm hoping that I can ignore the fact that they've used a photo of a step through frame because on the Chris Bikes blog the photo of the T500 does not have a step through frame.
http://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/katalog/trekking?product_id=673
Head to head specifications:-
Frame: Cube = Aluminium vs. T500 = Steel
Brakes: Cube = Shimano BR-M355 Hydr Disc Brake vs. T500 = Shimano BR-T4000 V-Brake
Gears (both internal hubs): Cube = Shimano Alfine SG-S7000 8 speed vs. T500 = Shimano Alfine 8 speed
Tyres: Cube = Schwalbe Marathon Supreme Kevlar 42x622 vs. T500 = Schwalbe Marathon Racer 35x622
Front light (both dynamo lights F&R): Cube = Busch & Muller Eyc T Senso Plus vs. Busch & Muller Lumotec Lyt Plus. *
Rear light: Cube = Busch & Muller Toplight View Plus vs. T500 = Busch & Muller Toplight Flat Plus
Front Hub: Cube = Shimano XT DH-T785 vs. T500 = Shimano DH-3N72 **
Weight: Cube = 13.9 kg vs. T500 = 14.8 kg ***
Price: I'm not certain but from what I can find it's Cube = £850 vs. T500 £899
* Regarding the front light looking at the beam patterns on the website link below the Cube's B&M Eyc light looks a lot better than the B&M Lyt on the T500. Also looking online at various shops the B&M Eyc is a more expensive light that the B&M Lyt.
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/headlights.asp
** Not that I'm an expert on dynamo hubs but looking on various websites the Cube's XT DH-T785 hub dynamo is more expensive that the T500's dynamo.
*** There's 1 kg difference between the two bikes and I know that neither is a lightweight but having a lightweight bike is not high on my priority list and so the 1kg difference is not a big factor to me. A long term, reliable and sturdy commuter is the priority which has the longevity to withstand many years commuting if looked after.
I'm not an expert in components but to me the quality of components fitted to the Cube bike seem to be better. Furthermore the Cube has disc brakes as opposed to V-Brakes on the T500. As well as the brakes being a clear difference the big difference seems to be what the frame is made of with the Cube having an aluminium frame whereas the T500 has a steel frame.
I wondered if anybody has any thoughts on what they might feel is the better of the two bikes. I'm wondering if despite the fact that it appears that the Cube has the better components for the money the fact that the T500 has a steel frame would mean that in terms of longevity that would be the bike to go for given the all weathers all year around commuting that I'll be doing?
Thanks to anyone in advance for any thoughts!
John
